Community Survey – New Belle Haven Library 

The City of Menlo Park is taking an important next step toward a new branch library in Belle Haven. We are focusing in on the specific space needs for a planned new branch library. Your input is welcomed and encouraged. We want to hear from you!

Take the online survey 

The City of Menlo Park's library system consists of the main library and the Belle Haven branch. The City is planning for new library facilities at both its main and branch locations. The planning process began with input received during the Library’s Departmental review in 2015, continued with its Strategic Plan in 2016, and moved forward in 2017 with the Space Needs Assessment for the main library and the Belle Haven Neighborhood Library Needs Assessment. The next phase of the project is a Space Needs Assessment for the branch library. 

Upcoming public meetings

Mark your calendar and plan to attend one of our face-to-face community meetings: 

• Monday, January 28, 7-9 p.m., Belle Haven Branch Library, 413 Ivy Drive
• March 12, 2019, 6 p.m., City Council study session, 701 Laurel St.
• April 2019 (date TBD), 7 p.m., City Council Chambers public hearing, 701 Laurel St.

Belle Haven Library Space Needs Study

The study is under way. The space needs study builds upon the results of the neighborhood needs assessment completed in October 2018. The first phase of the space needs study involves conversations with stakeholders, community meetings, a community survey and conversations with neighborhood organizations, businesses, schools and neighborhood residents. The input gathered through community outreach for this study sharpens and refines earlier input, and will be used to produce a program that translates community needs into the space required to meet those needs. A similar process was completed in 2017 for the main library. 

Focus group meetings were held at the Belle Haven Branch Library to gather stakeholder input on Monday, November 26 and Tuesday, November 27, 2018.

A public meeting to gather input on the branch was held at the Menlo Park Senior Center on December 13, 2018.

Library Commission

The Library Commission will hold a study session to discuss and consider preliminary results from the Space Needs Study at their January 28, 2019 meeting. This special meeting of the Commission will be held at the Belle Haven branch library.

Belle Haven Neighborhood Library Needs Assessment

 The final report on the Belle Haven Neighborhood Library Needs Assessment has been approved. The report and its appendices can be found in the Important Documents section of this page.

Main Library Siting and Uses Meetings

Three public meetings on the Main Library siting and uses were held on December 4, 2017, January 17, 2018, and February 15, 2018. 
   

Belle Haven Branch Library

Check out the Belle Haven Branch Library page for upcoming events! 

Belle Haven Neighborhood Library Advisory Committee

The Library Needs Assessment for the Belle Haven Neighborhood is complete. The Belle Haven Neighborhood Library Advisory Committee was formed to assist throughout the process.